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Chiwenga heads to Azerbaijan
2 hrs ago |
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Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga is expected to leave Zimbabwe this weekend for Baku, Azerbaijan, where he will attend a major United Nations global conference on sustainable urbanisation.
The event, the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), runs from May 17 to 22 under the theme "Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities."
The conference will bring together governments, city authorities, civil society, private sector actors and development partners to address the global housing crisis and explore pathways toward inclusive and sustainable urban development.
Zimbabwe, like many countries, is facing significant urban housing challenges, with the capital Harare alone reported to have a backlog of around 300 000 housing applicants on its waiting list.
The city has struggled for years to allocate residential land due to shortages and a growing backlog, leading to congestion in informal settlements and unplanned urban expansion.
The housing deficit has also been linked to corruption concerns, including allegations involving illegal land allocation schemes and so-called land barons, some of whom are said to have political connections.
In addition to the UN forum, Chiwenga is also expected to attend the 11th Digitalisation of Industrial Russia (CIPR) conference in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, running from May 18 to 21.
The Russian conference is one of the largest international business and technology gatherings, focusing on digital sovereignty, industrial innovation and global technology cooperation.
More than 30 countries participated in the previous edition, with discussions centred on artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital infrastructure development.
Zimbabwe has been seeking to expand its digital economy, with growing investment in ICT infrastructure, AI systems and related industries, although analysts say economic constraints continue to limit the sector's full potential.
Officials say Chiwenga's participation in both events aligns with government efforts to strengthen international cooperation and promote inclusive industrial and technological development.
The event, the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), runs from May 17 to 22 under the theme "Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities."
The conference will bring together governments, city authorities, civil society, private sector actors and development partners to address the global housing crisis and explore pathways toward inclusive and sustainable urban development.
Zimbabwe, like many countries, is facing significant urban housing challenges, with the capital Harare alone reported to have a backlog of around 300 000 housing applicants on its waiting list.
The city has struggled for years to allocate residential land due to shortages and a growing backlog, leading to congestion in informal settlements and unplanned urban expansion.
The housing deficit has also been linked to corruption concerns, including allegations involving illegal land allocation schemes and so-called land barons, some of whom are said to have political connections.
In addition to the UN forum, Chiwenga is also expected to attend the 11th Digitalisation of Industrial Russia (CIPR) conference in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, running from May 18 to 21.
The Russian conference is one of the largest international business and technology gatherings, focusing on digital sovereignty, industrial innovation and global technology cooperation.
More than 30 countries participated in the previous edition, with discussions centred on artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital infrastructure development.
Zimbabwe has been seeking to expand its digital economy, with growing investment in ICT infrastructure, AI systems and related industries, although analysts say economic constraints continue to limit the sector's full potential.
Officials say Chiwenga's participation in both events aligns with government efforts to strengthen international cooperation and promote inclusive industrial and technological development.
Source - The Standard
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